Welcome to the PA Secondary Transition for Youth Engagement Wiki
Why Youth Engagement is Important: Youth and young adults should be the leader of their educational and transition planning team.
Youth engagement is a central principle of youth development and it is important to view young people as agents of their own development. Youth are more than passive recipients of external influences; instead they are actively involved in shaping their development by interacting with the people and opportunities made available within their environments. Through youth engagement, communities can do a better job of creating the services, opportunities, and supports that young people need to develop in healthy ways. Youth engagement offers community leaders the expertise and partnership of young people, helping adults fully understand what it is like to grow up in a rapidly changing world.
There are many benefits to youth engagement:
Young people benefit by gaining skills, knowledge, self-esteem, and connectedness.
Adults benefit by enhancing their own competencies, learning to better understand and value youth, and increasing their commitment and energy to their organizations.
Organizations benefit by improving their programs, gaining community recognition, and attracting funders.
Communities benefit by improving quality of life, coordinating youth services, and authentically embracing diversity by representing young people.
Adapted from the Act Youth Network website
This wiki provides information and resources regarding how to engage youth and young adults in this process.
On this site youth can connect with young adult leaders from across Pennsylvania and find additional resources that can assist them with the secondary transition process.
Welcome to the PA Secondary Transition for Youth Engagement Wiki
Why Youth Engagement is Important:
Youth and young adults should be the leader of their educational and transition planning team.
Youth engagement is a central principle of youth development and it is important to view young people as agents of their own development. Youth are more than passive recipients of external influences; instead they are actively involved in shaping their development by interacting with the people and opportunities made available within their environments. Through youth engagement, communities can do a better job of creating the services, opportunities, and supports that young people need to develop in healthy ways. Youth engagement offers community leaders the expertise and partnership of young people, helping adults fully understand what it is like to grow up in a rapidly changing world.
There are many benefits to youth engagement:
Young people benefit by gaining skills, knowledge, self-esteem, and connectedness.
Adults benefit by enhancing their own competencies, learning to better understand and value youth, and increasing their commitment and energy to their organizations.
Organizations benefit by improving their programs, gaining community recognition, and attracting funders.
Communities benefit by improving quality of life, coordinating youth services, and authentically embracing diversity by representing young people.
Adapted from the Act Youth Network website
This wiki provides information and resources regarding how to engage youth and young adults in this process.Websites:
Center for Self Determination
I'm Determinded
National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability (NCWD/Youth)
Pennsylvania Career Education and Work Standards
Pennsylvania Youth Leadership Network
University of Oklahoma - Zarrow Center
Virginia Commonwealth University – Going to College
Resources:
The Pennsylvania Youth Leadership Network (PYLN) - Toolkits
Supports for Assessment of Self-Determination Skills
Supports for Career Development
Supports for IEP Involvement
Supports for Recreation and Leisure Involvement
ACT Youth Network Resources